Shoegasm

“A shoe is a very complicated object to design. It is art, but involves mini architecture: materials, techniques, tooling. The end result is a fantasy sculpture to look at, but has another life when it is worn.” - Kobi Levi

Exotic shoes have been around for centuries. Sandals made of solid gold were found in the royal tombs of ancient Egypt. Six hundred years ago, women teetered around Venice in chopines with platforms up to a foot high. And in China, tiny golden lotus shoes were brightly colored and elaborately embroidered. In the twentieth century, Salvatore Ferragamo introduced platform shoes and “invisible” sandals. Beth Levine invented sprint-o-lator mules and topless shoes held to the sole by adhesive. Roger Vivier created the concave stiletto and comma heels for his extravagantly bejeweled concoctions. The last two decades have seen an explosion of creativity in footwear design. Sexy laced-up sandals, sky-high platform heels, and outrageously decorated shoes are seen on fashionable women everywhere, from the catwalk to the street. In Shoegasm, you’ll find page after page of fabulous footwear from fashion icons such as Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik, Vivienne Westwood, and Alexander McQueen, as well as exciting young designers like Nicholas Kirkwood, Charlotte Olympia, and collaborators Rem D. Koohhaas and Galahad Clark. You’ll also see shoes that are truly wearable art from innovators like Kobi Levi, Julian Hakes, and Marloes Ten Bhomer.

Longtime book editor and author Clare Anthony marvels at the imagination, engineering, and craftsmanship that go into creating a gorgeous pair of extreme high heels, even if she does prefer to walk around in comfy flats herself. The editor of two books on fashion, she has also written for both adults and children on a variety of subjects.